The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-06-07
TRAINED FOR TENDER WORK
Anew and Commendable Movement In
augurated by Supt. Fletcher.
The Graduation at the Insane Hospital Last
Evening of Fourteen Persons Thoroughly
Trained in Caring for the Demented.

The first annual commencement of the train
ing school for attendants of the Indiana Hospital
for the Insane took place in the chapel of that
institution last evening. 1t was unique and
delightful affair. The audience was composed
of attendants at the institution and their friends
about 800 persons in all The graduates were
fourteen in number, thirteen ladies aud one
gentleman. The ladies were, with two excep-
tons, dressed in white. and each wore white
cap, gathered with black band. The male
graduate, Thomas B. Forest. the solitary repre-
sentative of his sex, bore himself bravely. Rev.
Henderson opened the programme with an in
vocation. The musical exercises consisted of a
duet. violin and piano, by DR.. Reyer and Mrs.
Palmer, with vocal selections by Miss Josie
Davis and Mrs. Palmer. and quintet by
Misses Davis. Morgan and Eolschen, and Messrs.
Henderson and Small.
Each member OF the class contributed brief
essay on selected topic. These were as fol-
lows: Mrs. Frances A. Talbot, who has had FIVE
years service. what Moral Influences be
used to Correct Profane and Vulgar Insane
Patients" Emma Ryker, four years and FIVE
months, what Ia Your Opinion of Manual
Industry in Treating the Chronic Insanew
Mary Power. four years, ITO What Extent can
Mechanical Restraints be Aboishedl" Victoria
Haunschild. five years, "What should be Your
Conduct to Visitors and Officers when on Ward
DutyP Lou Armistead, four years, DE
scribe the Best Method of Feeding
Patient Who Refuses TO Eat" Mary Green,
four years, what Is the Best Means of Treat
ing Burns and Scalds that Can Be Quickly APP
pied; Susie Commiskey, five years, What
Effect Has General Public Visiting upon Pa
tientsFi Belle Wade year. "What to Do
with Deep Cuts and Much Bleeding" Mary Nc
Manus, two years. What to Do in Case of Fire
IN or near q Ward," Eva Armstead. two years,
=, Common Accidents in Wards and How to
treat Them" Thomas B. Forrest, fifteen
years, rs Compulsory Labor Bene-
fetal in the Treatment Of the Insane7";
Nora Sullivan, three years. "Amusements in the
treatment of the Insane; Mary Barkley, four
years, Pure Air; Mrs Fairchild, year.
flowers and Their Effect on the insane"
Tue essays emnently practical and
Slowed that the training of the graduates had
not been superficial. DIR. A j. Thomas assist
ant SUPERINTENDENT, delivered brief address.
showing the beginning OF organized and intelli-
gent effort on the part Of women for the relief of
suffering humanity to have originated in the fifth
century. He then spoke of later and more in
teigent effort In this direction especially in the
B1atter OF trained nurses, of which there
are now about twenty schools in the United
States The training of attendants in hospitals
for the insane is not included in this, and there
are but three such schools in the country-ona
at kankakee, ILL.,; Buffalo, N. Y, and the Indi-
ana Hospital for the Insane. which has the honor
TO have held the first commencement exercises
and presented the first diplomas, and the course
or study in this hospital Is more extensive than
IN the two mentioned. He said the days of Bet
thanked God for it
Superintendent Fletcher, addressing the grad
Mating class, said: I'm comforting upon you
these certificates feel that something more is
contained therein than the diploma of an ordin-
airy collegiate course. For in this. not only
recognize your assiduiLy in attaining a certain
degree of theoretical knowledge from lectures
given by the medical staff. but that you have
preceded the lecture course by thorough prac-
teal training as attendants upon our wards
When medical, law theological student
IA at I'M To ha dalI nm
tried II his profession. and about three
fourths OF these professional aspirants
prove prove failures But with you you have
one to fifteen years practice and observation
caring for the insane. confess am struck with
an awful interest whenever 1 stand before the
wreck of human mind, and but one thing in
terests me more. and that Is how to restore
son to her throne or how to guide it into peace
full channels. The first requisite in either case
is not the piled up stores catalogued in the Ma
terra Medca, not the subtle chemical that for
time holds the patient bound by poisoned spell
into quiet 50 omission, bat Is the skilled, kind
attendant who can soothe the tempestuous
outburst of the maniac-or, by gentle argument
dispeI the deluson of the melancholy. Remem-
Der. you now attendants by profession.
Constantly imagine yourself the pa
tent, removed from home and friends and.
without your consent, thrown into that fright
fully strange. world-the wards of hos
pital for insane Think for moment what
words you would love to hear-what kindly
looks and acts you would love to receive from
81 can assure you this is certainly of the
proudest moments of my life. We have demon
strated that women can do everything
they set out to do. We began with
class of twelve. equally balanced be-
tween men and women attendants. We
see before us but one, Mr.. Forest. who has
been steadfast the male side of the house.
The ministrations of upon a battle
field. or in military hospital.
during plague are chId's play compared TO
what these women find in their attendance upon
the insane. / would that their services
properly and fully appreciated by every one It
certainly should be valued far beyond the pitlful
compensation of 800 month"
Following the exercises there was dance, in
which the attendants and visitors took part